Adjustable parts holder and workpositioning apparatus



H. L. KRUMM Aug. 18, 1953 ADJUSTABLE PART HOLDER AND WORK-POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1952 4 Sheet's-Sheet l Q VV r/ MMY /N m W. N. R .m.\ kb ,M kb, W W m A @Dm o G o o m U A ma o o o o o o o o o M q Kw mw 6 D 0 O O o L mw NN w 7 m m m m Nw r r r t m l ,N N m \N 0 O 0 a u n x w o Y J m s B RQ 1 .NW MN uw u fr@ |N .Y N\\,\ NW( NNw NQ\I\ mm, A MMX A m.m\ Awww. M

Aug. 1s, 1953 H. L. KRUMM ADJUSTABLE PART HOLDER AND WORK-POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1952 4 ShQtSrSheet 2 560 63 65 542 I? INVEN/TOR 642 ,fr/6. g,

HdM/HAD@ A/ADU/V/W ATTORNEY AU@ S, 1953 H. L. KUMM 2,648,896

ADJUSTBLEl PART HOLDER AND WORK-POSITINING APPARATUS INVENTOR 0W/HPO L. UMM

ATTORNEY H. L. KRUMM Au@ E8, H953 ADJUSTABLE PART HOLDER AND WORK-POSITONING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed June l2, 1952l ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1.8, 1953 UNITE QFFICE ADJUSTABLE FARTS HOLDER AND WORK- PQSETIONNG APPARATUS Il Claims.

The present invention relates generally to work-positioningand holding devices, and more specifically to an improved work-holding and positioning apparatus employed in the manufacture of stairs, railings, fences, and re escapes.

In the manufacture of metallic stair railings, lire escapes, etc., it is usual to employ a multiplicity of upright picket members which are positioned between and in angular relationship to one or more elongated and longitudinally extending stringers or hand rails. Ordinarily, the upstanding picket members are secured to the longitudinal stringers or hand rails as by welding or other suitable means, and depending upon the angle of inclination of the longitudinal stringers or hand rails, the u-pstandingl picket members will be secured to the longitudinal stringere at a given angle relative thereto so as to position the picket members in substantially vertical planes when the stair railing, re escape, or other completed device is operatively positioned.

It follows, therefore, that the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved work-positioning holder for the picket members and longitudinal stringers of a stair rail or similar device, and wherein the relative angles between the longitudinal stringers and the multiplicity of picket members is maintained uniform and the work held in substantially rigid position to enable the individual picket members to be welded or otherwise permanently secured to the longitudinal. Stringer members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a work-positioning and parts holder of this character which is adjustable in nature in order v,

to align picket members in any given angular relationship to one or more longitudinal stringers or hand rail members, and to maintain the angular relations-hip of such picket members during welding operations wherein the picket members are secured to the associated longitudinal stringere.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a work holder of this character which comprises a pair or" spaced parallel and longitudinally adjustable lattice members connected at intervals throughout their lengths by means of a plurality spaced parallel templet bars pivtally connected with the respective lattice members to permit one of the lattice members to swing rin a generally vertical plane to vary the angles of the templet bars, and at the same time to adjust longitudinally to vary the spacing between the individual templet bars, whereby a multiplicity of picket members may be secured to the individual templet bars in desired angular rela-- tionship to longitudinal stringers also detachably secured in given positions to the templet bars and lattice members.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the various additional objects and advantages realized therefrom, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved work-positioning and holding apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a detailed transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line' 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a `fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view' taken along the line Il li of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of. the angular adjusting .protractor and asscciated clamping means;

Fig. 6 is adetailed front elevational view of one of the indexing slides and associated measuring tape employed in connection with each of the templet bars for determining the spacing thereof;

7 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken along the line '5 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View takenv along the line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of one of the templet bars employed in the apparatus;

Fig. l0 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line M l IJ of Fig. 9;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged elevational View of one ci the work-supporting and indexing templet plates of the templet bar;

Fig. l2 is a Yhorizontal sectional View taken along the line i2 2A of Fig. ll.

*Fig 1.3 is a detail perspective view of one of the latch plates for connecting the templet bars to their associated supporti-ng shafts; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevationl. View of one form. of railing produced by the present apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 8, it will be seen that the present Work-positioning holdermakes use of a plurality o longitudinally spacedypedestal supports i5 which are rigidly secured to a oor structure I6, or other suitable support, and which, in turn, support at the upper ends thereof a lower longitudinally extending frame' section il. The lower frame section Il comprises a vertically arranged front wall Hd, a horizontal' top wall lib, and a lower horizontal' bottom wall tlc; The outer end portions of the bottom and top walls of the lower frame section i1 are bent inwardly, as at I1d, to reinforce the frame section, and at each end, the lower frame section I1 is provided with overlapping diagonally extending end walls I8 which additionally serve to reinforce the lower frame section.

As shown particularly in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the lower frame section I1 supports upon the upper wall I'ib thereof a longitudinally coextensive casing I9 which is open along the front side of the lower frame section I1, and which is provided internally with a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally grooved guide rails 2U. The open front side of the casing I9 is closed by a longitudinally coextensive bearing plate 2I which is slotted, as at 22, throughout its length, and which slidably receives the intermediate portions of a plurality of longitudinally movable and rotatable shafts 23.

.The shafts 23 are arranged to project forwardly and outwardly from the casing I9 and the slotted face plate 2I and function to support a lower kinematic lattice-like linkage 24. The lower lattice-like linkage 24 comprises a plurality of pivotally connected arms 25 which are so arranged as to provide for relative longitudinal contraction or expansion of the linkage 24 as the shafts 23 are moved longitudinally within the casing I9 and the slot 22 of the face plate 2I. rThe outermost arms 25, at each end of the lattice 24, are provided with laterally offset rollers 29 which are slidably carried within slotted brackets 21, and as viewed in Fig. l, the lefthand bracket 21 is rigidly secured to the lefthand end of the lower frame section I1, while the right-hand slotted bracket 21 is supported upon the outermost shaft 23 and is free to move longitudinally with the lattice 24. As seen particularly in Figs. l and 8, each of the shafts 23 eX- tends through the central crossing portions of the arms 25 of the lattice-work 24 and forms the pivotal axis for each group of arms making up the lattice-like linkage 24, in order to permit the linkage to expand and contract longitudinally upon movement of the right-hand slotted bracket 21 relative to the fixed left-hand bracket as viewed from Fig. l.

The apparatus further comprises an upper frame section 29 disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation to the lower frame section I1. The upper trame section 29 is substantially identical in construction to the lower frame section il', except that the same is inverted with relation to the lower frame section, and is provided with a longitudinally coextensive casing 39 upon its bottom wall, which casing 30 is identical in construction to the casing I9 of the lower frame section I1, the casing 3D being provided with transversely spaced guide rails 20, a slotted face plate 2 I, and an equal number of shafts 23 which support an upper lattice-like kinematic linkage 3l substantially identical to the lower linkage 24.

As seen in Fig. l, the upper frame section 29 is rigidly carried and supported by a pair of longitudinally spaced rods 32 which, in turn, are suspended from the outer ends of a ilexible cable 33 which is trained over a system of pulleys 34 carried upon a traveling carriage 35, with the intermediate portion of the cable 33 supporting a counterbalancing weight 36. The carriage 35 is supported at spaced longitudinal intervals by a plurality of wheel-carrying trucks 31 which are rollingly supported within a channel frame 38 suspended from a ceiling structure 39. Thus, the supporting rods 32 and upper frame section 29 may be moved or displaced vertically and longitudinally, and at the same time, the weight of the upper frame section 29 and upper linkage 3| is counterbalanced by the weight 36 to prevent the upper casing section 29 and linkage 3| from dropping downwardly upon the lower linkage 24.

The upper kinematic linkage 3| likewise has its outer arms, at either end thereof, slidably connected with slotted brackets 49, the left-hand bracket 49, as viewed in Fig. l, being stationarily attached to the upper frame section 29 by the upper left-hand shaft 23, while the upper righthand bracket 453 is free to move longitudinally of the upper frame section 29 Within the limits of the slotted upper face plate 2 I.

The upper and lower frame sections 29 and I1 are connected together by means of a pair of bell crank levers or arms 42 which are pivotally connected at their upper and lower end portions with the face plates 2! of the upper and lower frame sections, each of the bell crank levers terminating at one of their ends in a perpendicularly related indexing arm 43. As shown particularly in Fig. l, the indexing arm 43 associated with the bell crank lever 42 disposed at the left-hand end of the device is carried in registration with a protractor plate 44 which is rigidly carried by and extends longitudinally outwardly from the left-hand end of the upper frame section 29. The right-hand bell crank lever 42, in turn, terminates at its lower end in the perpendicularly related indexing arm 43 which is disposed in registration with a protractor plate 45 rigidly carried by the right-hand end of the lower frame section I1. As shown in detail in Fig. 4, the indexing arms 43, at their outer ends, are bent backwardly upon themselves to provide a slot 43 which receives the outer edge portions of the protractor plates 44 and 45, and each of the arms 43 is provided with a wing nut clamping screw 4l which, when tightened, causes the outer end portions of the arms 43 to tightly clamp the outer edge portions of the protractor plates to lock the bell crank arms 42 against pivotal swinging movement.

Also as shown in Fig. 5, the arms 43 are slotted, as at 48, to provide an indexing window for registration with the indicia inscribed upon the protractor plates 44 and 45. The arms 43 of the bell crank levers 42 are so arranged relatively to the scale upon the protractors 44 and 45 as to indicate the angular relationship of the arms relative to the horizontally disposed upper and lower frame sections 29 and I1. Thus, by loosening the Wing nuts 41 upon the arms 43, the upper linkage 3| and frame section 29 may be swung about the pivots provided by the lower ends of the levers 42, after the manner of a pair of parallel dividers, and it will be noted that the upper and lower frame sections will at all times be disposed in parallel relation to each other, as both of the bell crank levers 42 are of equal length.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that each of the shafts 23 carries on the inner end thereof a tubular sleeve member 59 provided at either end with a diametrically enlarged inner bearing race 5I having an annular groove 52 which receives a plurality of ball bearings 53. An annular collar or outer race 54 extends around the ball bearings 53 and rides within the channels of the transversely spaced bearing guides 20 carried by the frame. The outer end portion of each of the shafts 23 extends through the slotv 22 fonnedin the face plates. 2|, and thence*tllroughthev cen:- tral crossing portions of theY armsz25 makingup the kinematic linkages 24 and 3l. Advantageously, an annular washer may beV positioned between the central overlapping` portions of the arms 25 to reduce friction therebetween upon relative expansion and contraction of the linkages.

Outwardly from the overlapping central portionsA of the arms 25, the shafts 23 carry a spacer block 5t which, in turn, supports an indexing guide 5l of generally U-shaped cro-ss section which is arranged tol slide with each individual shaft assembly longitudinally of its associated frame section, and a stationary metallic measuring tape 58 which is anchored at either end in association with the bell crank levers 42. The tapes 53 are arranged in slightly elevated relation to the planes of the shafts 23 carriedV in the upper and lower frame sections, and the sliding guides 5l are arranged to overlap the-tapes 53, and are provided with an indexing window 59 through which visual access may be had to the calibrations or indicia carried upon the tapes 58 in order that each shaft 23 may be exactly located andv spaced from a corresponding shaft to insure equal spacing of the picket members of a stair railing or similar article, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Each of the indexing clips 51 is provided with a wing nut clamp 60 which is threaded into the spacer block 56, as shown in Fig; '7, in order that the guide may be securely clamped at any given position along the tape 53, and thereby prevent longitudinal expansion or contraction of the individual lattice-like linkages.

Outwardly from the guides 51, each shaft carries a retaining collar 6l which normally pre vents removal ofthe arms 25, spacer blocks, and guides 5l from the shaft assembly. A relatively short distance inwardly from the outer end of each of the shafts 23, the samev is formed with a reduced diameter annular groove B2, and the extreme outer end portion of each shaft 23 terminates in a circular head 63 which is arranged for insertion Within a circular opening formed within a work-supporting templet bar 64.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 andA 8, one of the templet bars 64 is arranged to extend between and be supported bythe outer headed' end portion of each set of shafts 23, and when so supported, to lie in parallel relationship to one another and to the bell crank arms 42. Each of the templet bars $4, in the region of the shafts 23,

is provided with a longitudinallyI slidable keyhole latch plate 55 Which is arranged toengage the reduced grooved portion '62 of each of the shaft ends to detachably lock the templet bars in place at the ends of the shafts, and at the same time permit of pivotal movement of the templet bars upon the heads of the shafts. The latch plates 65 are arranged for limited sliding movement upon the templet bars in order that the larger keyhole opening in each of the latch plates may be brought into registration with the head-re-Y ceiving opening 66 within the templet bars to per-- mit of removal of the templet bars from the shafts when desired.

It should here be understood that the position cf' each of the templet bars Sli correspondsV to the desired position of the normally upright picket members of a stair railing or similar component of the work, and toward this end, each of the templet bars is provided at spaced intervals there along with4 templet plates: 61 having a plurality 6. of. setsof. variably spaced screwthreaded openings 68 for the threaded reception of a. plurality of work-supporting and clamping pintles 6.9. The templet plates 6,1 may be disposed at any desired spaced interval along the templet bars64 so' as to furnish support to picket members, such as indicated by the numeral 'l0 in Fig; 10. Further, the templet bars 64 are provided with a second group of pivotally mounted templet plates H which may be adjusted in angular relation to the templet bars E4 so as to receive and support the longitudinal members 'l2v of a stair railing or similar'device to be manufactured on the present apparatus. It will be understood that any number and type of templet plates may be operatively connected upon the individual templet bars 64 so as to provide clamping supports for the desired membersof a stair railing or similar device to be manufactured'upon the present apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 1, each templet bar 34 carries two of the fixed templet plates- 6l for supporting the picket members of a stair railing, and two of the pivotally mounted templet plates Tl for supporting upper and lower longitudinal stringers, with the upper and lower end portions of the picket members 10 arranged in abutting relation to the upper and lower longitudinal stringers 12, in order that the adjoining portions of the picket and Stringer members may be welded together to provide a stair railing, fence, or similar article, having the picket members disposed in desired angular relationship to the longitudinal stringers.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, each of the shaft assemblies 23 is provided with means to exclude foreign matter from the interior of the casings Bil. It will be understood that during welding operations upon the work, particles of molten metal are likely to enter the open sides of the casings 30 through the shaft openings 2' formed' in the slotted face plates 2l, and-thereafter become lodged in the rollerk mechanisms and prevent free movement ofthe lattices. To prevent the entry of foreign matter within the roller mechanisms, I provide on each ofthe shafts 23 a protector plate 14, and within the lower and upper casings, IS and 30 respectively, there is arranged a pair of iiexible and overlappingl metallic screen members or strips 75 which shield the rollers 5l and 54 from metallic particles emanating from welding operations adjacent the templet bars 64. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the shafts 23 are free to project outwardly between the overlapping edge'portions of the screen 15, but the area of the screens between the` individual shafts 23 is completely protected so as to exclude any spatter which enters the open sides of the casings I9 and 30, the individual plates 14 carried upon the shafts serving to protect the immediate shaft area of the over'- lapping screen members i5. Thus, as the shaft assemblies 23 are moved longitudinally within the casings t9 and 36, theA overlapping screens 'l5 maintain a protective area between the shafts, while at the same timeV permitting the shafts to move relatively toward and away from one another. The secured ends ofv the screens 'i5 are joined with the frame sections l'l and 29 and the casings IS and 30 by means of longitudinally coextensive angle iron bars 'l which may be riveted, welded, or otherwise suitably joined with the frame sections and ther casings.

In operation, assume that it is desired to make a stair railing having an angle of inclination equal to approximately 30, i. e. wherethe hand' railing, ory upper longitudinal Stringer, is a1'- 7 ranged at an angle of 30 to the horizontal. In such an instance, to have the pickets or transverse members of the stair railing occupy truly vertical positions, it is necessary that the angle between the longitudinal stringers and the pickets be 60. Thus, the indexing arms 43 of the bell crank levers l2 are loosened upon the protractors 44 and t5 and moved about the periphery of the latter until the index of the arm registers with the 60-12G indication on the scale of the protractor plates lill and 45. At this position, the wing nuts Ill are tightened to securely clamp the bell crank arms 42 to the protractor plates. With the bell crank arms 42 in their desired clamped positions, each of the templet bars 6Fl, upon engagement with the heads of the shafts 23, will be arranged in parallel relation to the body portions of the bell crank arms 42, and will likewise assume a 60 angle with respect to the horizontal. However, prior to attaching the templet bars 6d to the shafts 23, the desired spacing between the centers of the picket members is obtained by loosening the wing nut clamps 69 associated with the sliding guide members l carried by each shaft and indexing the guide members along the measuring tapes 53 so as to maintain a given and uniform spacing between each of the picket members comprising the railing or fence structure. It will be understood that longitudinal movement of each of the kinematic linkages relative to the frame members ordinarily results in maintaining an equal spacing between the individual shaft members. However, due to slack or looseness within the kinematic linkages, it is believed desirable that each shaft center be denitely located and measured along the tapes so as to insure an exact equal spacing between the individual picket members. Thus, after indexing the sliding guides El, the same may be securely clamped by the wing nuts '50 so as to locate exactly the centers of the shafts at equally spaceddistances throughout the length of the stair railing or fence desired. After the adjustment of the upper frame section relative to the lower frame section is eiected to obtain the desired angle of inclination between the longitudinal stringere and the picket members, and the clamping of the guides 5l to determine the desired spacing between individual picket members, the apparatus is then ready to receive the templet bars 64 which are applied to the headed ends of the shaft and locked thereon by means of the sliding latch plates S5. Thereafter, depending upon the size or dimensions of the picket members and longitudinal stringers, the clamping pintles 69 are screwed into the desired sets of openings t8 formed in the templet plates El so as to support the picket members of the railing or fence in parallel relation to the templet bars 64. Likewise, the pivotally mounted templet plates ll receive screw-threaded pintles 59 so as to support the longitudinal Stringer members 'i2 in horizon-- parts are joined with one another to form a univ tary structure. The present apparatus functions eiiciently in quickly determining the desired length and angle of inclination of a railing or fence structure to be formed in the apparatus,

and serves to locate accurately the relative posiv tions of the parts, thus eliminating time-consuming calculations as heretofore employed in the assembly and manufacture of skeleton-type railings.

While a single preferred form of the present invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be manifest that various modiications may be resorted to to adapt the apparatus to the support and formation of various types of skeleton structures, merely by the proper selection of the templet plates and the arrangement of such plates upon the templet bars.

I claim:

l, Apparatus for supporting and positioning work pieces preparatory to joining operations comprising a lower substantially horizontally disposed stationary rame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway; an upper substantially horizontally disposed movable frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway and positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to said lower frame; arms extending between and pivotally connected with said frames at each end thereof and providing for swinging movement of said upper frame in a substantially vertical plane; means connected between said arms and said frames for locking said upper frame against swinging movement; a relatively extensible and contractible kinematic linkage including a plurality of pivotally connected arms carried on each of said frames and movable longitudinally thereof; a plurality of relatively spaced parallel templet bars extending between and pivotally connected with said linkages and disposed in angular relation to said frames, said linkages being movable longitudinally of said frames to vary the spacing between said templet bars and said upper frame being movable to vary the angular relation between said templet bars and saidframes; and means carried by said templet bars for holding work pieces in abutting angular relation to one another.

2. Apparatus for supporting' and positioning work pieces preparatory to joining operations comprising a lower substantially 'horizontally disposed stationary frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway; an upper substantially horizontally disposed movable frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway and positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to said lower frame; arms extending between and pivotally connected with said frames at each end thereof and providing for swinging movement of said upper frame in a substantially vertical plane; means connected between said arms and said frames for locking said upper frame against swinging movement; a relatively extensible and contractible kinematic linkage including a plurality of pivotally connected arms carried on each of said frames and movable longitudinally thereof; a plurality of relatively spaced parallel templet bars extending between and pivotally connected with said linkages and disposed in angular relation to said frames, said linkages being movable longitudinally of said frames to vary the spacing between said templet bars and said upper frame being movable to Vary the angular relation between said templet bars and said frames; means carried by said templet bars for holding work pieces in abutting angular relation to one another; and means carried by at least one of said frames for indicating the angular relation between said templet bars and said frames.

3. Apparatus for supporting and positioning Work pieces preparatory to joining operations comprising a lower substantially horizontally disposed stationary frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway; an upper substantially horizontally disposed movable frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway and positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to said lower frame; arms extending between and pivotally connected with said frames at each end thereof and providing for swinging movement of said upper frame in a substantially vertical plane; means connected between said arms and said frames for locking Said upper frame against swinging movement; a relatively extensible and contractible kinematic linkage including a plurality of pivotally connected arms carried on each of said frames and movable longitudinally thereof; a plurality of relatively spaced parallel templet bars extending between and pivotally connected with said linkages and disposed in angular relation to said frames, said linkages being movable longitudinally of said frames to vary the spacing between said templet bars and said upper frame being movable to vary the angular relation between said templet bars and said frames; means carried by said templet bars for holding work pieces in abutting angular relation to one another; and means comprising a measuring tape carried on one of said frames adjacent said linkage for indicating the spacing between said templet bars.

4. Apparatus for supporting and positioning work pieces preparatory to joining operations comprising a lower substantially horizontally disposed stationary frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway; an upper Substantially horizontally disposed movable frame provided with a longitudinally extending guideway and positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to said lower frame; arms extending between and pivotally connected with said frames at each end thereof and providing for swinging movement of said upper frame in a substantially vertical plane; means connected between said arms and said frames for locking said upper frame against swinging movement; a relatively extensible and contractible kinematic linkage including a plurality of pivotally connected arms carried on each of said frames and movable longitudinally thereof; a plurality of relatively spaced parallel templet bars extending between and pivotally connectel with said linkages and disposed in angular relation to said frames, said linkages being movable longitudinally of said frames to vary the spacing between said templet bars and said upper frame being movable to vary the angular relation between said templet bars and said frames; means carried by said templet bars for holding work pieces in abutting angular relation to one another; means carried by at least one of said frames for indicating the angular relation between said templet bars and said frames; and means comprising a measuring tape carried on one of said frames adjacent said linkage for indicating the spacing between said templet bars.

HOWARD L. KRUMM.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,549,251 Geyer Aug. 11, 1925 1,591,574 Stusman July 6, 1926 1,648,409 Kuney Nov. 8, 1927 1,734,485 Gurian Nov. 5, 1929 1,755,031 Schmuckler Apr. 15, 1930 

